Critique Historique, Politique, Morale, Economique, & Comique, Sur Les Lotteries, Anciennes, & Modernes, Spirtuelles, & Temporelles, Des Etats, & Des Eglises
Amserdam: Theodore Boeteman, 1697. 1st Edition. Hardcover. The final work published by Gregorio Leti, all of whose books were placed on the Index Librorum Prohibitorum. Born in Milan in 1630, Leti traveled and published widely, producing many controversial and influential works as a historian. Having completed an early biography of Elizabeth I, Leti was obliged to leave England after offending Charles II, settling in Amsterdam, where he became the city historiographer. In his final work Leti offers a detailed critique of the large public lotteries then in vogue, depicting them as a source of false hope and both the product and the cause of social unrest. 2 Volumes. 12mo. Later binding. All edges stained red, now faded. Marbled endpapers, both volumes contain the bookplate of a previous owner, while the fly-leaves have the name of another, whose initials are also on the title pages. Covers worn with age, joints beginning to crack, loss to heads and tails of the spines, especially the tail of volume 1. Both volumes still contain their respective fold-out allegorical illustrations. (46) 1-408; (12) 1- 448. 9.5 x 16 cm. Very Good. Item #2022-M294
Price: $475.00